The outstanding worksheet highlights the governments that have received three outstanding ratings on any of the individual 27 Budget Awards criteria. The specific criteria are noted where they have received the outstanding rating.

For State, School District, and Community College Participants Only. For budgets that have a fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2017, please be aware that the format of submission has changed for states, school districts, and community colleges only. The current format will no longer be accepted after that. The new submission format for these different entity types can be found at the following.

GFOA established the Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program (Budget Awards Program) in 1984 to encourage and assist state and local governments to prepare budget documents of the very highest quality that reflect both the guidelines established by the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting and the GFOA's best practices on budgeting and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.

Documents submitted to the Budget Awards Program are reviewed by selected members of the GFOA professional staff and by outside reviewers with experience in public-sector budgeting.

The following links offer access to detailed information on specific aspects of the Budget Awards Program: